Bone Grafting in Lehi, UT

Life happens — which means that accidents happen. If you lost a tooth due to injury or other reasons, you might go to the dentist and find out that you need a dental implant.

But in most cases with missing teeth, you’ll need to get a bone graft first.

It’s understandable why the sound of this might be frightening, but there’s no reason to worry — roughly 100 thousand bone graft procedures are performed in the United States each year, so the method is standard and very safe. Our team of professionals knows what they are doing, and look forward to helping make your smile healthier and happier.

But first, take the time to understand what a bone graft is, why you might need one, and what to expect from the procedure.

What is a Bone Graft?

Dental implant surgery is performed in stages, so you might need a bone graft before going forward with an implant if your jaw is not strong enough to hold the implant.

In this instance, we usually recommend a bone graft, which is simply installing a piece of bone to make your jaw strong enough to hold any incoming implants.

Not too long ago, people who suffered from tooth loss from injury or infection had to wear dentures — because this procedure didn’t exist. If a tooth was lost prematurely due to injury or infection, the jaws quickly atrophy to a level called “basal bone.” This can leave behind only a narrow hoop of bone in the lower jaw or a flat pancake of bone in the upper jaw. Doctors would try to compromise with the atrophy by offering patients dentures, which would help “rebuild” the jaw so the patient could still eat, drink, and talk comfortably.

Luckily, today, we have bone grafts and dental implants.

So even though dental bone grafts sound scary, the truth is that the procedure is very safe and advanced, despite its relative newness. The procedure produces spectacular results that hundreds of thousands of people have already experienced.

Why Do I Need A Bone Graft Before Dental Implants?

Bone grafts are an essential part of the dental implant process if your jaw is not strong enough to hold an implant. They solidify the foundation for your implant, which means your body is less likely to reject the new tooth. They’ll also help restore facial contour and shape depending on your situation.

In most cases, bone grafts are needed when there are multiple fractures in your jaw underneath a damaged tooth. If inserting a dental implant to the bone isn’t possible, you’ll need a graft to ensure that repair efforts can continue.

As stated before, bone grafts are only a stepping stone in the more significant procedure of dental implants.

Why Do I Need a Bone Graft Before Dental Implants?

Bone grafts are an essential part of the dental implant process if your jaw is not strong enough to hold an implant. They solidify the foundation for your implant, which means your body is less likely to reject the new tooth. They’ll also help restore facial contour and shape depending on your situation.

In most cases, bone grafts are needed when there are multiple fractures in your jaw underneath a damaged tooth. If inserting a dental implant to the bone isn’t possible, you’ll need a graft to ensure that repair efforts can continue.

As stated before, bone grafts are only a stepping stone in the more significant procedure of dental implants.

What Else Do I Need For Dental Implants?

Here is a general list of steps to take to prepare you for dental implants:

But when it comes to the second step — bone grafting — there are a few different ways that this can be achieved. In addition to this process, there are two types of grafts available:

Allograft

An allograft can come in one of three ways — but basically, it is a bone from a donor that has been cleaned and stored in a tissue bank.

If that still doesn’t sound great to you, you can also opt for a lab-grown synthetic bone graft that achieves the same effect. Some people prefer this, though it’s more expensive than the other options.

Autograft

An autograft comes from a bone inside your body, such as your ribs, hips, pelvis, or wrist. Although this type of graft is rarely used, it can be helpful for people who are missing large amounts of jaw bone.

Regardless of which you choose, there is good news if you need a bone graft before your dental implant: in some cases, you can get the actual implant during the grafting procedure!

What Can I Expect After a Bone Grafting Procedure?

Dental surgery sounds scary, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel. After the procedure, you can expect minimal discomfort. You might experience some soreness, but that can be helped with an ice pack or over-the-counter anti-inflammatory painkillers.

Within a day or two, you will be back to feeling normal!

Often, it is necessary to go onto the next step of the implant process as soon as you are fully healed — and then you are on your way to a beautiful and healthy smile once more.

Consult With Canyon Crest Dental Today

It’s important to feel healthy and beautiful, and sometimes that means you need to enlist the help of a professional. Although the idea of a bone graft might frighten you, the truth is that they’re a predictable procedure in the dental world.

Even if you’re nervous, our team at Canyon Crest Dental strives to make you as comfortable as possible with our various amenities.

If you’re looking to recreate your smile with dental implants, then don’t wait any longer! Contact us today to set up a free dental implant consultation.